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Q&A Should a non-native writer try to use complex English words?

I am a non-native English user and whenever I write something is it better that I use simple words or some rare and seldomly used words? I mean native-speakers should surely understand basic Englis...

4 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by SovereignSun‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question style word-choice
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T09:50:56Z (about 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/39012
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar SovereignSun‭ · 2019-12-08T09:50:56Z (about 5 years ago)
I am a non-native English user and whenever I write something is it better that I use simple words or some rare and seldomly used words? I mean native-speakers should surely understand basic English and simple everyday words, maybe except for a few difficult ones, but will they understand a text containing rare words which are seldomly used in writing, speech and everyday English?

On one hand I wish to have a text that can be easily read by most users of English without having the need to look up most of the words in the dictionary. On the other hand I want to have an elaborate style of writing with as many elegant and "sexy" words as possible, thus displaying an excellent knowledge of English.

This troubles me since I'm not sure which is better.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2018-09-19T05:53:20Z (over 6 years ago)
Original score: 10